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Deputy

I see a lot of disrespect and misunderstanding about what some of our players do. If you're that sure that Ice is going to the bench next year, I think you've been watching a different Cowboy team the last month or so.

Couldn't agree more, For sure the time on the floor will change and the minutes will be spread out more with these newcomers. I don't think we will see any players averaging much more than 25 minutes per game, if everyone contributes the way they're hyped to be.

Deputy

I dont see how Dziagwa starts on this team next year. There is just way too much talent coming in ahead of him. Not only talent, but versatile talent.

Watson is going to be an incredible player for us. If we get Brown, it gets even more crowded for Dziagwa. We could run more two-PG rotations with both Ice and AAIII on the court at the same time and place Waters and Cam on the perimeter in a catch-and-shoot type offense.

Listen, I have a lot of respect for what Dziagwa did for us this year. He stepped up in a big way and ate up a lot of minutes for a team that desperately needed it. And, as we all saw throughout the year, his game greatly improved throughout the season.

But, you would have to be looking through some very strong orange glasses to think he is a Big 12 caliber starter. He just isnt. What he is is a guy who can come in for 15 minutes a game and pour in a bunch of threes and provide offensive sparks when needed.

These new guys coming in will allow him to do that. I personally think, as a result, we will see a better version of him next year as he will be allowed to roam around the perimeter more and find his shot.

Yeah, maybe Boynton gives him the senior bump to start the season and puts him in the starting rotation. But I just cannot imagine a scenario, short of injuries or dismissals, that Dziagwa is starting for this incredibly talented team by Big 12 play.

Our team is going to be incredibly athletic, physical, and talented next season. If the OP's starting five holds true, then so will his prediction of 5th or 6th in the BIg 12. However, if we play the players who are the most talented and give us the best chance to win, I wouldn't be surprised to see us in the mix at the end of the year.

Sheriff

I wouldn't be surprised to see the same starting 5 for the first game next season. It would probably be in our best interest if Watson won the starting role at shooting guard by conference play though. Dziagwa is a good shooter, but he's a significant liability on defense. I would rather have him as an offensive spark plug off the bench.

This team played pretty well towards the end of the season. They'll have 4 seniors next year, and Likekele & Anei will be more mature. They'll have a lot more depth with the recruiting class they're bringing in. I think the expectation next season is to get back to the NCAA tournament.

Greenhorn

Boynton has made it clear time and time again that Ice is a leader on this team (as a freshman) with instinct and a will to win. To think he would take that type of leadership and tenacity off of the court to start each game would be ridiculous. Is he the the flashiest, quickest PG in the league? No. Does he get the job done as good as any? Yes. Ice will be the Pokes 1 man barring injury or catastrophe.

Territorial Marshal

Ice will be better when he has more athletic pieces around him. Currently he is the only guy that can take anyone off the dribble. So he has to dribble around and wait on Dizzy or Lindy to try to get free, and even then they are not as open as they used to be. Lindy is going to have to learn how to get his shot a little better. Dizzy will be the guy that comes off the bench as a 3 point specialist.

If Ice could really improve his 3 point shot then he could be a solid combo guard.

Point Guard

I just hope Anei can continue next year what he was doing these last three games. You could really see his confidence growing. He has a chance to be one of the best big men in the conference if he does. Here are his stats the last three games.

Cowboy

I agree with others on the Watson over Dziagwa argument, at least by Big XII play. I hope he is good enough to come in right away and start! I believe he's the only incoming freshman we have that is physically ready to play a significant role. However, there is going to be an adjustment period for him just like *most* freshman have (*excluding anyone who plays for Duke*), and therefore I don't expect him to start right away.

Lindy, Cam and Tommy-D were tremendous leaders for us this year and Boynton knows that. Freshmen with no sweat equity aren't going to start over any of them until they've proven that they deserve it. That being said, I'm firmly on the Marcus Watson bandwagon and expect him to prove he's a starter at some point during the season.

Our strength and conditioning staff are going to have their work cut out for them this season. They did a great job with getting Weathers ready when he came in so thin. They basically have to do that 3 times this offseason with the Boone twins and Anderson. Those guys are not Marcus Watsons lol.

Deputy

Listen, I like all the guys on the team and laud their remarkable effort going down the stretch, but I do not understand the logic behind those stating next year's starting five will be the same as this year, while at the same time expecting some sort of quantum leap in wins. I get we do not graduate anyone while other teams will and our players gained valuable experience this year, but just about everyone else has recruited better and had better retention the past several years so in most instances, it is just an example of "Next Man Up" as far as they are concerned. More experience will get us a few games, but not vault us to the upper tier. As the past months have shown, we have typically played better in the second halves of games so fatigue aspect is moot if that is considered as a factor in regard to year's performance. So where is the talent jump that springs us to the upper tier of the B12 if we are putting the same five on the court? IMO, some of these new guys are going to have to step up and perform on the court as expected per their advertised skill level. If these purported studs cannot unseat some of our current 5, then it is Pollyannish to expect some type of significant improvement.

Cowboy

Listen, I like all the guys on the team and laud their remarkable effort going down the stretch, but I do not understand the logic behind those stating next year's starting five will be the same as this year, while at the same time expecting some sort of quantum leap in wins. I get we do not graduate anyone while other teams will and our players gained valuable experience this year, but just about everyone else has recruited better and had better retention the past several years so in most instances, it is just an example of "Next Man Up" as far as they are concerned. More experience will get us a few games, but not vault us to the upper tier. As the past months have shown, we have typically played better in the second halves of games so fatigue aspect is moot if that is considered as a factor in regard to year's performance. So where is the talent jump that springs us to the upper tier of the B12 if we are putting the same five on the court? IMO, some of these new guys are going to have to step up and perform on the court as expected per their advertised skill level. If these purported studs cannot unseat some of our current 5, then it is Pollyannish to expect some type of significant improvement.

I don't think we will start the same five next year either. I think Watson breaks in. Brown as well if he commits.

However, i disagree with your assessment that there will be no improvement if we DO roll out the same starting five. That is just ignoring that all of these players will improve, especially Ice and Yor. Not to mention, they all have great chemistry from playing together for a year and know all about each other.

Furthermore, it is ignoring the added depth and talent that we will have rotating in and out of the games. If we had a bench with Watson, Brown, Jones, AAIII, and the Boone Twins - that alone will automatically add to our win total. We had no depth whatsoever this year - adding these guys to our bench would drastically improve us.

I'm with you - we shouldn't and probably wont start the same five. However, I do disagree we would be the same team as this year if we did.

Deputy

I don't think we will start the same five next year either. I think Watson breaks in. Brown as well if he commits.

However, i disagree with your assessment that there will be no improvement if we DO roll out the same starting five. That is just ignoring that all of these players will improve, especially Ice and Yor. Not to mention, they all have great chemistry from playing together for a year and know all about each other.

Furthermore, it is ignoring the added depth and talent that we will have rotating in and out of the games. If we had a bench with Watson, Brown, Jones, AAIII, and the Boone Twins - that alone will automatically add to our win total. We had no depth whatsoever this year - adding these guys to our bench would drastically improve us.

I'm with you - we shouldn't and probably wont start the same five. However, I do disagree we would be the same team as this year if we did.

Thought I was pretty clear and did not say we will not be better. Experience, chemistry, age, etc. are worth a few wins. But many here are talking about significant increases in wins, vying for conference titles, etc. I do not think this group can do that as currently configured and these touted recruits will have to be all they are billed to be if challenging the top is the goal.

Sheriff

Listen, I like all the guys on the team and laud their remarkable effort going down the stretch, but I do not understand the logic behind those stating next year's starting five will be the same as this year, while at the same time expecting some sort of quantum leap in wins. I get we do not graduate anyone while other teams will and our players gained valuable experience this year, but just about everyone else has recruited better and had better retention the past several years so in most instances, it is just an example of "Next Man Up" as far as they are concerned. More experience will get us a few games, but not vault us to the upper tier. As the past months have shown, we have typically played better in the second halves of games so fatigue aspect is moot if that is considered as a factor in regard to year's performance. So where is the talent jump that springs us to the upper tier of the B12 if we are putting the same five on the court? IMO, some of these new guys are going to have to step up and perform on the court as expected per their advertised skill level. If these purported studs cannot unseat some of our current 5, then it is Pollyannish to expect some type of significant improvement.

It seemed like a good idea at the time

I agree with others on the Watson over Dziagwa argument, at least by Big XII play. I hope he is good enough to come in right away and start! I believe he's the only incoming freshman we have that is physically ready to play a significant role. However, there is going to be an adjustment period for him just like *most* freshman have (*excluding anyone who plays for Duke*), and therefore I don't expect him to start right away.

Lindy, Cam and Tommy-D were tremendous leaders for us this year and Boynton knows that. Freshmen with no sweat equity aren't going to start over any of them until they've proven that they deserve it. That being said, I'm firmly on the Marcus Watson bandwagon and expect him to prove he's a starter at some point during the season.

Our strength and conditioning staff are going to have their work cut out for them this season. They did a great job with getting Weathers ready when he came in so thin. They basically have to do that 3 times this offseason with the Boone twins and Anderson. Those guys are not Marcus Watsons lol.

Deputy

Any chance the walk-on who saw the floor, and the football walk-on (Gabe?) would get a chance to walk on again, if they wanted? I know one was a former AAU player. Sorry, I don’t remember the other’s name.

Find safe haven in a warm bathtub full of my jazz.

Any chance the walk-on who saw the floor, and the football walk-on (Gabe?) would get a chance to walk on again, if they wanted? I know one was a former AAU player. Sorry, I don’t remember the other’s name.

Deputy

So, just read another story about the college admissions scandal and it turns out, the guy taking the tests for other people was, as of Thursday, the Director of College Exam Preparation for the past 13 years for....IMG Academy. The (in my mind) bogus basketball factory in Florida where it seems 9 of 10 kids who go there could not spell their name but can play hoops like nobody's business.

It will be real interesting to see if this fiasco extends to the guy admitting to cheating on tests for athletes trying to qualify for D1 teams. Not implying every kid who goes through IMG is somehow tainted, but with this guy's current charges, cannot help but wonder what else he did for extra cash.

I vaguely seem to recall we have had a few basketball kids come through from IMG, but cannot think of names off the top of my head and also think most left or were dismissed. None of our signed recruits are from IMG, nor does it appear any recruiting targets are from there. Running through OSU rosters since 2009, the only kids I see with IMG ties are Ford Stuen (who I barely recall despite being here four years from 2012-2016), and Kamari Murphy from 2012-2014. Should this turn out to be something (I can see this guy singing like a canary to reduce his sentence), any exposure we may POSSIBLY have appears to be dated and minimal. But every year there are top recruits from there so it will be interesting to see if the scandal does extend into NCAA sports.

Cowboy

Any chance the walk-on who saw the floor, and the football walk-on (Gabe?) would get a chance to walk on again, if they wanted? I know one was a former AAU player. Sorry, I don’t remember the other’s name.